This distance measuring apparatus projects a first distance measurement light ray from an IRED and projects a second distance measurement light ray having an intensity higher than that of the IRED from a flash light emission portion. An offset electrically conductive path is disposed within the internal cavity. Each packet portion is assigned a synchronization code and a pipe state machine state. The shift register pattern can be compared against a predetermined pattern, and when the patterns correspond to the pattern of each other or to the completely inverted pattern of the other, the signal is enabled for further processing in a controller unit. The method comprises simultaneously developing and gumming the imaged element with an aqueous alkaline developing-gumming solution comprising one or more water-soluble polyhydroxy compounds of the following structure:. The compatibility value indicates whether the additional modality is compatible with the patient in order to conduct another of the procedures using that additional modality.